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Alaina Getzenberg
ORCHARD PARK, NY – Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott says the situation with the team claiming veteran cornerback Darius Slay is “unfortunate.”
Slay has not reported to the Bills, and it is uncertain whether he will do so as he is considering retirement. He remains in the team’s 53-man roster.
In the process of claiming Slay on waivers after he was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, Buffalo moved on from cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram with the hopes of eventually bringing him back. However, Ingram was claimed by the Houston Texans.
“I’m a huge fan of J’Marcus Ingram and always will be, so I’ll always have his back and want the best for him,” McDermott said Friday. “So that’s really where my mind is right now, and get ready to train myself for this game.”
Slay, 34, said on the “Speakeasy” podcast Thursday night that he hasn’t reported to the Bills yet because of the stage he’s in in his career and his desire to spend more time with his family.
“Mostly, it’s kind of a family decision,” Slay said. “So we’ll just see how it goes. But I’m taking it day by day.”
When Slay was asked if he would have reported to the Philadelphia Eagles, he would not commit either way. The defending Super Bowl champions also claimed Slay on waivers, a source confirmed to ESPN, but the Bills had a higher waiver priority. Slay praised the Bills organization, but said it “trapped” him in bad times.
McDermott declined to discuss whether he still expected Slay to play for Buffalo.
“I’m really going to focus on my team right now,” McDermott said. “So here’s a few days to focus on coaching our team and this game, and I wish him and his family all the best.”
The Bills will host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Fox) and will be without linebacker Terrell Bernard (elbow) and defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring). Wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee/ankle) is listed as questionable, while tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) and right tackle Spencer Brown (shoulder) are listed as questionable.
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